Public Art & Exhibitions

Navy Pier is an architectural gem and an engineering marvel. Sitting nearly a mile into Lake Michigan and dating back more than 100 years, “The People’s Pier” blends form and function, the old and the new, to create one of the most unique structures in the world. That makes Navy Pier the perfect place to gather and display public art and exhibitions.

As it enters its second century, Navy Pier has become a community-focused cultural district. Our eclectic array of public art and exhibitions reflects both our physical space and our philosophical mission. As the nonprofit stewards of a large, public place, we commit to present iconic, contemporary art installations and exhibitions that attract, excite and inspire our guests. We offer art that is free and accessible to all.

Experiencing Chicago’s Art Scene at Navy Pier

We consider public art and exhibitions to be a valuable part of any visit to Navy Pier. Guests get to escape their urban, concrete jungle to find shapes, colors and creations surrounded by green spaces and blue waters.

Some of the creative, artistic expressions you will find at Navy Pier are permanent installations. Others are special art events, temporary installations or seasonal displays. We offer both established and upcoming artists a platform to showcase their talent and their work to a large audience, without the fear of criticism or the pressure of having to sell tickets.

Art on Display at Navy Pier

As part of our permanent collection, guests can find a giant letter “P” or several bronze statues in and around Polk Bros Park. Nearby, they may discover temporary, cutting-edge works by some of the city’s most innovative, new artists. Some of these displays may even be interactive.

Along the Pier’s redesigned South Dock, they also may encounter art exhibitions or artistic performances that are completely unexpected. A great example is the Navy Pier collaboration of performance art, created by contemporary artist Nick Cave and architect Jeanne Gang, as part of the EXPO CHICAGO 2017 festivities.

Guests may choose to attend annual art events, such as SOFA CHICAGO. This show always offers a stunning collection of sculpture, objects, functional art and design. Some works are so large and so breathtaking, they only fit in a place like our Festival Hall.

Guests also visit temporary, pop-up art exhibitions that few people will get to experience anywhere else. A perfect example is the 2017 limited tour of items relating to the career of The Rolling Stones.

No matter what they encounter here, public art will continue to be an important element of the new Navy Pier. Thank you for taking the time to discover and enjoy these works—and Navy Pier—in a new light!

Join us in Polk Bros Park from February 17, 2018, through April 15, 2018, to experience Prismatica, a new interactive art installation at Navy Pier presented in partnership with the Quartier des Spectacle and RAW Design. Admission to this exhibit is free and open to the public.

This immersive installation, comprised of 25 pivoting prisms more than six feet tall, transforms Polk Bros Park in Navy Pier into a giant kaleidoscope. The prisms are made of panels laminated with a dichronic film that transmits and reflects every color in the visible spectrum, varying with the position of the light source and the observer. The prisms are mounted on bases containing projectors. As guests wander among and manipulate the prisms, they will enjoy an infinite interplay of lights and colorful reflections. As the prisms rotate, a variable-intensity soundtrack comprised of bell sounds will play.

Public Art & Historical Points of Interest

The Polk family—siblings Sol, Morris, Goldie, Sam, David and Harry— changed the course of American retail, the face of Chicago’s neighborhoods, and the everyday lives of Chicago’s working families. The Meet Me at the “P” sculpture at Navy Pier commemorates their impact and celebrates the changes they made.

Meet me at the “P” is an aluminum statue designed by Kym Abrams and dedicated to the lasting change from the Polk family.

PLAQUE INSCRIPTION
The Polk family—siblings Sol, Morris, Goldie, Sam, David and Harry— changed the course of American retail, the face of Chicago’s neighborhoods, and the everyday lives of Chicago’s working families. From 1935 to 1992, the Polk Bros chain of appliance and furniture stores put luxury and convenience within reach, offering discounted prices on essential household goods and strengthening the economic base on which vibrant communities depend. In the process, what began as a single store in Portage Park, opened by the sons of Eastern European immigrants, became a Chicago institution: a vital fixture in 17 neighborhoods and the most successful Chicago retailer that never opened a store downtown.

Created by Studio EIS in New York, this life-sized Bob Newhart statue was commissioned by nostalgia cable channel TV Land and unveiled to the City of Chicago on July 27, 2004 by the company’s president Larry W. Jones. In November 2004, the statue was moved to Navy Pier. The statue was designed for visitor participation and is best enjoyed by interacting with the famous tv psychologist Bob Hartley in bronze.

The Captain On The Helm bronze statue is located just south of the entrance to Navy Pier. The statue was a gift from the Chicago Lodge of Shipmasters International and sculpted by Michael Martino. Dedicated on May 19, 2000, the plaque acknowledges: “To those courageous mariners who guided their ships through perilous waters, carrying cargo and people. Their contributions have been so much a part of our history. May they never be forgotten.” In front of the statue is engraved brickwork with the names of many legendary Captains as well as other contributors to the project.

Created by world-renowned sculptor J. Seward Johnson, Jr., Crack the Whip was installed at Navy Pier in 1996. This whimsical depiction of eight children at play shows them holding hands and running in a semi-circle. A girl on one end appears to be falling down but is held up by the support of the others, who all lean back. Another girl has lost her shoe.

This 8-ton anchor comes from the U.S.S. Chicago and was installed at Navy Pier in 1995. The U.S.S. Chicago, which was funded by the citizens of Chicago and completed in 1945, saw action from several wars in the 20th century and received several commendations for her service.

This 8-ton anchor installed on Navy Pier in 1995 was from the U.S.S. Chicago, the third ship to bear the name Chicago. Funded by the citizens of Chicago and completed in 1945, U.S.S. Chicago was classified as a heavy cruiser and later converted to a guided missile cruiser. She saw action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and received several commendations before she was dismantled in 1984. In August 2012, former sailors who served aboard the U.S.S. Chicago and reconnected through social media, came to the Pier to restore the ship’s anchor back to its original color.